RTA DAIRY HERD HEALTH PLAN AND REVIEW TEMPLATE – outlining the minimum scheme
requirements and recommendations
The RTA Dairy scheme requires members to have an up-to-date herd health plan and to review herd
health and performance annually. To assist in this process this template includes all of the scheme
requirements (and the recommendations in italics). The table below outlines who is required to
complete which part of the plan and how often the scheme expects it to be completed or updated.
It is recommended a vet is involved in all aspects of the herd health plan and review. Note: many
herd health plans in existence already comply with or exceed the scheme minimum requirements –
but it is recommended you check the plan covers the relevant sections and the review elements in
this template.
Part
Section title
Completed by
What is it?
Frequency of
completion
A
Routine
Preventative
Measures;
Treatment Plans
and
Management
Procedures
Farmer/
herdsman or
Vet
B
Health and
Performance
Monitoring
Farmer/
herdsman or
Vet
C
Health and
Performance
Review
Vet (ideally the
herd vet that
routinely visits
the farm)
This has
Updated if need
traditionally been identified in Part
referred to as the C or if a change
Health Plan - the
in practice
plans in place
occurs on farm.
that address or
prevent relevant
health threats.
Health and performance should be
monitored on an on-going basis – but
the scheme requires as a minimum
that incidence of health conditions
and performance should be collated
from medicine records and other
relevant on-farm records annually.
The review
Annual –
requires a vet to
following
review health and completion of
performance
Part B
records, data,
see cows and
make
recommendations
(where
applicable). Vets
are expected to
complete a
template and
leave it on-farm.
October 2013
template version
– any changes?
No change in
October 2013
template from
2010 template
October 2013
includes minor
changes
Completely new
section for
reviews from
October 2013
Extra lines and spaces are provided in most tables within the rest of this template. This is for any
farm-specific actions or issues (e.g. parasites, infections) to be stated (if they are not covered
already).
FARM NAME:
PART A - Routine Preventative Measures; Treatment Plans & Management Procedures
Part A - Section 1: Routine Preventative Measures and Treatment Plans
The health plan must set out the preventative measures and proposed treatments to address the main health
threats that have been identified on the farm.
1.1 Biosecurity
Biosecurity measures must be farm-specific, relevant and proportionate to the health risks. Guidance on possible
biosecurity measures that could be implemented is provided in Appendix AM.11
Farm Specific Measures
Measures taken with incoming stock:

Sourcing policy

Ascertaining disease status


Pre-movement/purchase information from seller
Avoid / minimise mixing of stock
Nominated Isolation Facility/Area



Location of nominated Isolation facility or area
Actions required, if any, to make the facility available
Means of cleaning and disinfecting after use
Other Measures:

People

Buildings

Equipment

Vehicles

Fencing
1.2 Infectious Disease and Vaccinations
Disease
Status*
Control Measure / Vaccine
Target Animals
Timing
Johnes
Leptospirosis
BVD
IBR
TB
Use the blank rows to indicate other conditions that are relevant to the farm (eg calf pneumonia, salmonella,
husk, ringworm)

Status: F - free, U - currently unknown, action required, V - vaccinated, T - being tested, M- being monitored,
P - present, N - no action
1.3 Parasite Control
Parasite
Control Measure / Product
Target Animals
Timing
Fluke
Lungworm
Intestinal Worms
Lice
Flies
Ticks
Use the blank rows to include any other parasites that are relevant to the farm
1.4 Specific Health Conditions
1.4.1 Footcare
Name of persons with responsibility for footcare

Experience/ Qualifications*
It is recommended that foot-trimming is carried out by a foot trimmer that has been trained and qualified
through National Association of Cattle Foot Trimmers (NACFT) and/or NPTC.
Is Mobility Scoring carried out? (Recommended)
If yes,
Frequency/ how many times per year
Yes/No
By whom
Routine Measures taken for Prevention, Control and Treatment of Foot Problems (e.g. examination,
trimming, foot-bathing) Condition
Measure
When / How Often /
Products Used
Who
Control:
Digital dermatitis
Treatment:
Sole Ulcers
Control:
Treatment:
Foul in the foot
Control:
Treatment:
White line disease
Control:
Treatment:
Control:
Treatment:
Use the blank rows to include other conditions that are relevant to the farm.
1.4.2 Mastitis
Describe method (s) of detection:
Routine preventative measures
Pre-dipping
Post-dipping
Cluster Spraying
Cubicle Management
Used?
Yes/ No
Yes/ No
Yes/ No
Yes/ No
Actions taken in treatment of clinical mastitis cases:
Condition
Measures Taken
Products used
Products Used
Withdrawal Period
(milk and meat)
Milk
Environmental mastitis
Meat
Milk
Contagious mastitis
Meat
Milk
Meat
Please indicate details for any specific conditions being tackled.
Procedures for drying off cows:
Group
Measures Taken
Products Used
Withdrawal Period
(milk and meat)
Milk
Meat
Milk
Meat
Please indicate if different actions are taken for different groups (e.g. high SCC cows)
Part A. Section 2: Other Routine Management Procedures
2.1 Colostrum*
Measures taken to ensure newborn animals receive adequate colostrum:

NB - If this is already covered in the feedplan, this need not be repeated in the health plan.
2.2 Metabolic Disorders
Condition
Preventative Measures
Measure Taken
If Affected
Products Used
Hypomagnesaemia
(Staggers)
Milk fever
Ketosis
Displaced abomasums
Use the blank rows to include other conditions that are relevant to the farm.
2.3 Veterinary Related Operations
Type and age of Task
Person*
Method
Anaesthetic
stock
Disbudding
Dehorning
Castration
Removal of
supernumary teats
Use the blank rows to include other routine operations supplied to the herd.

Persons undertaking veterinary related tasks must be suitable, experienced and/or trained, details of which must be
recorded in Training Records.
NB: A summary of the legislative requirements with respect to methods, competency, age limits and the need for
anaesthetic is provided in Appendix AM.1
2.4 Casualty and Deadstock
Action (s) taken with ‘downer cows’
Action (s) taken with casualty animals
Action (s) taken
(“bobby”) calves
with
unmarketable
(see Appendix AH.9)
Humane slaughter on farm:
Carried out by
Method
Method (s) of deadstock disposal
(to whom, where)
2.5 Other Disease and Management Problems
Condition
Prevention/Treatment Measures (including products
used and withdrawal periods)
Retained foetal membranes
Navel ill (calves)
Infertility
Use the blank rows to include other condtions that are relevent to the farm.
2.6 Identification of Treated Animals
Describe the means used for identification:
2.7 Broken Needle Policy
A suggested policy is provided below - if necessary amend with any additional or farm-specific actions
In the event that a broken needle is left in an animal during treatment we will take the following action:
1.
Mark the animal with a distinct and permanent form of identification and record the date, animal
identification and injection site in the veterinary medicine record.
2.
When disposed of, the animal will be consigned direct to slaughter and not sold to another producer.
The movement/means of disposal will be recorded in the herd/flock record book.
3.
If the animal is to be retained as breeding stock or for longer than 7 days we will check its health
regularly and when disposed of, follow the procedure at point 5.
4.
The animal will only be marketed within 7 days if the withdrawal period for the substance being injected
allows this. The animal will be consigned to a slaughterhouse with an emergency slaughter certificate
from a veterinary surgeon, which provides details of the injection site. The injection site with the broken
needle will be marked on the animal before consignment.
5.
If the animal is marketed after 7 days we will consign it to a slaughterhouse and inform the
slaughterhouse in writing of the broken needle, providing details of the injection site and the date on
which it occurred. The injection site with the broken needle will be marked on the animal before
consignment.
6.
Otherwise the animal will be kept for home consumption taking care to avoid broken needle.
Alternatively it will be euthanased.
If precautions 1-5 above are taken and the slaughterhouse is fully informed in writing, the animal
may be marketed as farm assured.
2.8 Actions for Dealing with Confirmed TB Reactors in the Milking Herd
A suggested policy is provided below – if necessary, amend with any additional or farm-specific actions:

Isolate confirmed reactor animal(s) as soon as diagnosed by the veterinary surgeon pending their
removal from the farm.

Clearly identify reactor animals (e.g. with marker spray, tail tapes).

Milk reactor animals last and thoroughly clean equipment after use.

Discard milk from reactors completely - exclude from bulk tank and do not feed to calves.

If disposing of milk via direct land spreading, apply a grazing interval - minimum 6 months
recommended.
Other actions taken:
PART A COMPLETED BY:
Name:
Role on farm:
(e.g. farmer, herdsman, vet)
Declaration:
The information recorded within this health plan, is, to the best of my knowledge accurate and a true
reflection of practices on the farm.
Signed:
Date of completion:
FARM NAME:
PART B – HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE MONITORING (Incidence collation)
Health and performance should be monitored on an on-going basis. The scheme requires the table
below to be completed annually. It requires the collation of incidence of conditions and information
from various health and performance records (including the medicine records and records required for
AH.5). There is no direct impact on certification if incidence of a health issue is high and it is being
acted upon. This section once completed must be reviewed by a vet for Part C – this information
must be accurate to be meaningful and useful in the veterinary review.
3.1. Health and performance information that must be collated for monitoring
No. of cases
Total
Per 100
cows*
Farm Target (s)
(Total or Per 100
Cows – delete as
appropriate)
Comments, Observations (e.g.
pattern in timing, common causes)
Lameness
Mastitis
Culling Rate
Main Reasons
culling
for
1.
2.
3.
(New for October 2013)
Involuntary culls I.e.
number of animals that
died/ emergency
slaughtered (on-farm)
Calf Mortality –
0-24 hours
(incl. stillborn)
Calf Mortality –
24 hours – 42 days
(losses per 100
cows calved)
(New for October 2013)
(losses per 100
cows calved)
(New for October 2013)
* To determine number of cases per 100 cows, calculate:
PART B COMPLETED BY:
Name:
Total number of cases x 100
Total number of cows
Role on farm: (e.g. farmer, herdsman, vet)
Declaration:
The information recorded within Part B, to the best of my knowledge, is accurate and a true reflection
of incidences on the farm. Where required, relevant records will be provided to the vet to undertake
the annual herd health review.
Signed: (farmer/ herdsman)
Date:
Signed: (and vet if applicable)
3.2 Health and performance information it is recommended is collated for monitoring
Number of cases
Farm
Comments,
Target (s)
Observations
Total
/ 100 cows
Health and Welfare
Mobility Scoring –
Score 2 and 3 cows
(impaired
mobility)
and
Number of cows scored
=
severely
impaired
Date of most
scoring = / /
Milk Fever
Hypomagnesaemia
('staggers)
Retained Foetal
Membranes
No. of assisted calvings
Survivability and Productivity
Fertility Parameters
Days to 1st service
-
Conception Rate (%)
-
Calving Interval (days)
-
Females
reaching
second calving
Average Number
Of Lactations
Av. Milk Yield
(state whether yield is
related to days, lactation etc).
-
Cows
-
Heifers
Av Milk Quality (12 months)
-
Butterfat %
-
Protein %
-
Bactoscan
-
Somatic Cell Count
-
Urea
Use the blank rows to include other conditions that are most relevant to the farm.
recent
FARM NAME:
PART C – HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE REVIEW
VET REVIEW OF DATA AND RECOMMENDATION OF ACTIONS/ PRIOIRTY AREAS
This section must be completed by a Veterinary Surgeon, at least annually. As part of the vet review,
the vet may need access to the records that have been used to collate data (e.g. medicine records).
NB: The vet is not expected to validate or verify data collated by the farmer – they are required to
review it and make recommendations based on what they have seen. Farmers are not bound by the
scheme to act upon vet recommendations.
I have reviewed data and health and performance records (where available) related to:








Lameness
Mastitis
Culling and mortalities
Fertility, reproductive disorders and calving problems
Metabolic disorders
Calf diseases
Other diseases and conditions
(list any others seen)
[
[
[
[
[
[
[
] Tick if seen
]
]
]
]
]
]
And as part of the review I have also inspected:






Cows in Milk
Calves
Dry Cows
Other youngstock
Stock bulls
other (list)
[
[
[
[
[
] Tick if seen
]
]
]
]
And recommend that the following priorities are acted upon within the specified timeframe:
Priority
Actions to address
Complete by
1.
2.
3.
The relevant sections (to these priorities) of the Herd Health Plan should also be updated.
The priorities and actions I recommend above are based upon the data and facts provided to me and the cows
inspected on the day. As such the effectiveness of my recommendations could be limited by the accuracy of the
information provided and whether the cows seen are a true reflection of the herd.
Veterinary surgeon name
Veterinary practice
Veterinary surgeon’s signature
Date of review